Human Right # 1: "We are all free and equal"
Phoenix
Do you really follow this thought in your day-to-day life?
Really examine your thoughts, as you walk through your day, do you approach everyone as free and equal to yourself?
Human rights start with how you think - we can not expect others to follow through with the giving these rights to all of us, if we are not willing to begin to examine how we are acting, how we are speaking, how we are thinking.
So, again, do you really approach everyone as free and equal to yourself?
Even the new neighbor who has habbits not matching your own?
The guy down the street, who has been in jail, but paid his dues to society?
That muslim women, who chooses to wear her hijab?
Do you really think of them as your equal?
We are ALL free and equal. In order for that to become true, our thinking needs to change.
Peace
Claudia
Access: Public
change
August 2008 
I really like your question. Of course, I like to think of myself as a very tolerant and open-minded person who does not judge people easily but as a matter of fact, I am not. I often catch myself looking down upon others or even harboring a feeling of contempt towards people I don't even know, strangers in the street, passers by. And I am very quick to judge, too. I guess there are quite some people that I feel superior over in one way or the other. I try to avoid those feelings and when I consciously catch myself thinking negative or contemptuous thoughts, I try to turn them into something positive and to smile at the respective person. But I'm still not where I want to be and I hope one day I will really be able to view everyone as equal.
Here on Gaia, I actually have encountered the hype, too. Quite some people that preach tolerance are acting quite intolerant and with an air of superiority towards people who are different. It's sad but unfortunately, c'est la vie, too.
PS: I'm impressed by your using the word hijab or is it common vocabulary in the States?
Hi Jenny!
Thank you for commenting on my blog.
You had exactly the reaction to my question, that I had searched for, you looked within. We all can learn to be more tolerant - there is always room for improvement within our lives.
Many times though, we say we stand for something, and are practicing it on an outward basis, while our thoughts do not line up with what we say we are committed to.
That is where I want to go with my blog within the next few days.
As to my use of the word hijab - I study religions on a regular basis, partially because of personal interest, and partially because of my profession as a life coach. Islam is a very interesting subject, there is beauty in all religions and truths. Tolerance is possible only when we educate ourselves about each-other. The more we seek what we have in common, the more we can accept our uniqueness. Currently I have begun to study Scientology - looking for it's beauty, which is evident to me. Maybe I will share more about what I have found within the next few days.
In any case, thank you for stopping by here, today.
I am constantly reminded of a sentiment that Dr. Wayne Dyer used, and I think it can fit in here as well, when it comes to tolerance and acceptance:
Think about going to a buffet. When you are choosing what to put on your plate, you do not stand in front of the food you do not want and complain - instead you go for what you like, and what you enjoy.
If we approach each-other from the viewpoint of what we like about each other, and about what we have in common, instead of what is our differences, and what we might disagree on, we all will begin creating peace at home. That is where all change begins. Within.
Peace